To expect the library to be staffed?

[girlfriend44]

The latest round of cuts is the library being unstaffed but open.

You let yourself in and out with your card. No staff. I was too scared to go in. It's feels so wrong. Anything could happen with no staff. I didn't feel safe. Would you?

Our nearest is only open on weekday mornings. So useful with children or a job...

I haven't voted, as it kind of depends what you are asking.

If this is about if I would feel unsafe or not, then I wouldn't (but I am picturing the local libraries around here, I don't know what yours is like).

If you are asking if - after 13 years of austerity, I would expect anything that has to be funded out of a LA's budget to be fully staffed and fit for purpose, then, no, I don't.

If you are asking if, in a decent humane, fair society, in a country that is amongst the 10 or so richest in the world should have library staff, then of course it should.

But somehow, there are too many people in the country who don't think "other people" matter, and for some bizarre reason continue to vote in politicians who don't give a damn about most of society.

Wrong. Free access to books for all. internet access. Access to news archives etc. A quiet space for homework. A place of safety for homeless people to keep warm, read, use a computer. And much, much more.

It's a disgrace that they are closing.

I wouldn't feel unsafe. I think a library, during the day, that can only be accessed if you're a member, with security cameras is probably quite safe. Safer than dog walking by yourself, for example, and I don't think twice about that. Maybe you could have your phone set to ring a friend or an emergency number if you felt threatened.

I'm sad to see libraries go. I love the one in my town and grew up with weekly visits. But if people aren't using them, they'll go and I suppose that's right really if public money keeps them open.

People aren’t using libraries in Britain because libraries in Britain are shit.
Libraries in Britain are shit because politicians don’t use money on them.
If they were up to Finnish or Dutch standards I’m sure they’d get similar use, with yes staff, programming, new and inviting workspaces, etc etc.

Welcome to Britain after 13 years of conservative rule.

The library where my Mum used to work is now staffed almost entirely by volunteers. They have one member of staff overseeing all of the libraries the rest are volunteers.

As it is quite onerous and most people who want to volunteer want to do it for charity and aren't happy to take jobs from paid working people most of the volunteers are prisoners on day release or probation.

They've had their day for those who can afford to buy books and wouldn't need a library.

For those of us with little spare cash that like to read, the library very much hasn't had its day.

Ours offers help and advice, there are basic computer lessons, children's reading sessions etc that are very well attended.

As a working class kid in a tough inner city area the library was one of my places of safety, both at school and where we lived. You can definitely spot the privileged Tories on this thread. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone can afford Kindle Unlimited.

The other thing that boils my urine is when you get the Lovely Dears brigade who all think they can run a library - not a book exchange, a library. Still, when we live in a world where university vice chancellors despise books (and indeed evidence based knowledge) what hope is there for libraries any more in any sector.

Had this for years, though there are some staffed hours and does include three at weekends. Introduced by a Tory council.

Well this is quite an ignorant comment. Ours are well used, importantly by those who need access to services, internet, resources.

It works well in our local libraries. There are some times where they are unstaffed, and other, core, hours where they are staffed…to cover things like the the homework club, and the baby wiggle and jiggle, knit and natter, story time, etc. Cameras are on, and it’s a little eerie at first, but usually, lovely and peaceful, shelves well-stocked and people on the computers researching family history. I’d rather this than lose the libraries.

My local library use volunteers, I think they only have 1 actual member of staff. Before this it was only open twice a week and now back to 5 days which is nice as my DD loves the library! I agree though that I probably would feel uncomfortable going into an unstaffed library.

Our library (outer London) is staffed by paid staff and volunteers. They run many free clubs for kids and my teen volunteers for one.
There are waiting lists for them for both attendance and volunteering. Lots of DofE kids.

They also have toddler sessions, reading groups and run various sessions for older people and plenty of computers for access.

It's a real centre of the community and no way has it had its day. There are always plenty of visitors. It's open til 8pm 3 times a week.

It's such a shame to hear what's happening to other libraries.

DH works for county council and sees how money is wasted. So yes, the government could give more, but our council could definitely make better choices at times.

I volunteer in a library. We have one paid member of staff and 40 volunteers (was 80 before Covid).

Sadly, the only viable alternatives to smart libraries are volunteers or closing completely.

You’re right. Libraries are important and should if possible feel like a community hub. It’s definitely better to have paid staff there. Just curious ..,are young people allowed in there by themselves too?

I’m not sure if I’d feel unsafe as such but haven’t had that experience yet as my library usually has at least 5 staff working 6 days a week thankfully!

I don’t feel “lucky” to have them though, it’s what I was used to growing up and with all the council tax we pay and how important reading is I feel it should be the norm. We should never normalise the library cuts. It’s a shame people didn’t make a bigger fuss about the closures in some areas.

its not ideal but neither is not having a library at all. why do you feel unsafe? what do you think a lone library staff member could do if someone was in there with sinister intentions anyway?

libraries are struggling to stay open. realistically the next step after this one is closure.

lots of the users of my library would disagree! We get letters all the time saying that without the library life wouldn’t be worth living.

There are a small core of users who typically take out 6-10 books or audio books a week and who couldn’t afford to buy those outright. Same for the parents with toddlers taking vast handfuls of picture books home each week,

I work in libraries, the budget cuts are eye watering, our book buying fund is a fraction of what it used to be. Libraries have suffered greatly under Tory leadership.

All craft events for children / coffee mornings etc. in our library are often funded out of staff's own pockets, with us bringing in refreshments or craft material from home etc.

I'm sure the library the OP mentioned is staffed at some point during the week, and she should visit during those hours.

Exactly. We didn’t even have a bookshop in our town. Apart from the odd school book fair and car boot sale where they sold second hand books, the library is mainly where I got all my books growing up.

They should have staff and they should be paid. As @CaptainMyCaptain pointed out they do much for different groups of people.

Volunteers are doing their best but it’s just not the same plus this new model is putting people out of a job. We need to encourage more people to use the library. I use it for this reason despite having so many unread books on my shelf and because I work with publishers I get a lot of free books but I still use the library for support. The less people use them the more they can justify underfunding and closing them.

With all the price rises currently, we need the libraries. Lots of people can't spend on books like they used to but still need access to books for themselves and their families.

Would you feel much safer with one probably older female member of staff pottering about, or out in the office/store room? I think there are still staff in my Library but you hardly see them. Go with a friend?

I should add I'm not against volunteers per se as so many of them do amazing work. What I am against is their being used as an excuse to not have paid professional or support staff. Plus you tend to get more volunteers in wealthier areas (unless they're into bringing baskets of knowledge to the deserving poor down the road in the rough bits of town) and a lot of volunteers tend to fall into a certain demographic as became very apparent during COVID.

A friend of mine went to a meeting about volunteering in a library although she disagreed with the concept, believing it should be a paid job. The tasks they were expected to taken on put her off completely. She would have been happy stamping books, replacing the books correctly on the shelves, tidying up etc but they were also to be put in charge of unlocking and locking up the library and organising groups. Thus should definitely be down to a paid employee.

My local library is staffed but on part time hours. The one in the town has had some cuts made but is operating normally.